Strapping apparatus

ABSTRACT

A strapping apparatus for strapping articles with a strapping band having a base plate provided for arranging on an article, a tensioning device with which a band tension can be applied to the strapping band, and a sealing device for permanently connecting two band layers to each other.

This patent application is a continuation of, and claims priority to andthe benefit of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/267,744, which wasfiled on Feb. 5, 2019, which is a continuation of, and claims priorityto and the benefit of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/357,904,which was filed on May 13, 2014, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,227,149on Mar. 12, 2019, which is a U.S. national stage application ofInternational Patent Application No. PCT/US2012/064917, which was filedon Nov. 14, 2012, which claims priority to Swiss Patent Application No.01818/11, which was filed Nov. 14, 2011, the entire contents of each areincorporated by reference herein.

The invention relates to a strapping apparatus, in particular to aportable, mobile, battery-operated strapping apparatus, for strappingarticles with a strapping band, having a base plate which is providedfor arranging on an article, having a tensioning device with which ahand tension can be applied to the strapping band, the tensioning devicebeing provided for this purpose with an actuable tensioning tool whichcan be brought into and out of contact with the band, having a sealingdevice with which, by contact with the band, two band layers can bepermanently connected to each other by forming a seal between the twoband layers, being provided with a clamping device with which the bandcan be clamped in the strapping apparatus, and being provided with atleast one actuating element with which a magnitude of a tensioning forcewhich can be applied to the strapping band or a magnitude which independent on the tensioning force can be set.

Mobile strapping apparatuses of this type, like the strapping apparatusaccording to the invention, are used for strapping articles with aplastics strap. For this purpose, a loop of the particular plasticsstrap is placed around the article. The plastics strap is generallypulled off here from a supply reel. After the loop is completely placedaround the article, the end region of the band overlaps with a sectionof the band loop. The strapping apparatus is then applied to saidtwo-layered region of the band, the band is clamped in the process inthe strapping apparatus, a band tension is applied to the band loop bymeans of the tensioning device, and a seal is produced between the twoband layers by friction welding at the loop. In this connection,pressure is applied to the band in the region of two ends of the bandloop by a fraction shoe moving in an oscillating manner. The pressureand the heat arising because of the movement melt the band, whichgenerally contains plastic, locally for a short time. This results in apermanent connection, which at the most can be released again with agreat force, between the two band layers between the two band layers. Atthe same time, the loop is severed from the supply reel. The respectivearticle is thereby strapped.

Strapping apparatuses of the type in question are provided in particularfor mobile use, in which the units are intended to be carried along by auser to the particular use location and are not intended to be dependentthere on the use of externally supplied mains power. In the case ofpreviously known strapping units, the power required for the designateduse of such strapping units for tensioning a strapping band around anyarticle and for producing a seal is generally provided by an electricbattery or else also by compressed air. Mobile strapping apparatuses ofthe type in question are frequently in permanent use in the goodspackaging industry, in particular using conditions which are identicalor at least scarcely differ from one another. In industrial use, amultiplicity of identical strappings are frequently carried out directlyafter one another. For this purpose, process parameters, such as, forexample, tensioning force and welding time, are customarily preset onthe strapping unit. Welding time is to be understood here as meaning thetime during which heat is introduced into the band layers to beconnected to one another by means of an oscillating frictional movementof a frictional element. The strapping process itself and/or individualseparate subprocesses of the strapping operation, such as, for example,the tensioning operation and the welding operation, are initiated byactuation of actuating elements of the strapping apparatus, for exampleby actuation of one or more buttons. After the strapping operationincluding the production of a seal is finished, the strapping unit canbe removed from the produced strapping and the strapped article.

It has now been shown that, in particular in the case of comparativelythick and wide straps, the seals produced by friction welding frequentlydo not have the desired tensile strength, even if the welding timelength has been adapted to the thickness and width of the bands.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing measures bymeans of which the strength of friction-welded band strapping sealsproduced by strapping apparatuses can be improved.

This object is achieved in the case of a strapping apparatus of the typementioned at the beginning in that a cooling time period for the seal,during which the strapping apparatus keeps the strapping band clampedfollowing a welding time, is variable depending on the band tensionwhich is variably adjustable at the strapping apparatus.

In previous solutions, the cooling time which follows the welding timeand during which the strapping unit still clamps the band and thestrapping unit cannot yet be pulled off was generally presetunchangeably. A solution has also already been disclosed, in which thecooling time is dependent on the previously provided welding time.However, neither solution has led to a completely satisfactory solution.The solution according to the invention therefore already includes theconsideration that the seal should be matched to the band tensionapplied in each case to the band and, in the event of, for example,increased band tension, a longer cooling time should be provided for thefriction-welded seal. The longer cooling time means that the materialheated during the friction welding also has a longer time to cool and tosolidify, which contributes to an increase in the load-bearing capacityof the seal. By this means, the strength or load-bearing capacity of theseal can therefore be adapted to the band tension already applied duringthe strapping operation and acting on the seal.

It has been shown that, by this means, the number of friction-weldedseals which fail during use can be noticeably reduced. Since althoughthe cooling time should last as long as necessary but, in order toobtain as many strappings as possible within a certain time, should alsoonly last as long as necessary, an optimization in respect of actuallyobtained strappings and the quality therefore with regard to thestrength of the seals can be undertaken with the invention.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, in order to determine thecooling time, during which the strapping apparatus still keeps the bandin the strapping apparatus in particular by means of a clamping device,in addition to the tensioning force set the length of the welding timeis also taken into consideration. Since the length of the welding timedetermines via the amount of power introduced into the seal, the weldingtime also has influence on the length of the cooling time to be kept toas far as possible in order to obtain good strength. By this means, thecooling time period can be further optimized until the strappingapparatus loosens and again releases the clamping of the band.

In order to simplify the handling of the strapping operation inconjunction with the selection of the cooling time period, automaticselection of the cooling time can be provided in an advantageousembodiment of the invention. Said selection can be undertaken inparticular by a controlling means of the strapping apparatus withreference to an algorithm stored in the controlling means. The algorithmis intended to take into consideration in a predetermined manner thewhich is in each case set at the strapping apparatus and by thetensioning device during the tensioning operation to the band which isoperatively connected to the tensioning device in order to produce aband tension. Provision is preferably also made in the algorithm to takeinto consideration the welding time which can be set in this embodimentaccording to the invention. The cooling time period is thereforepredetermined by the strapping apparatus itself and taken intoconsideration during the strapping operation.

An expedient possibility of determining the cooling time by means of thecontrolling means can make provision for each adjustable welding time tobe assigned a certain cooling time period, wherein at least some of thedifferent welding time values are intended also to be assigned differentcooling time values. Provision may be made in particular to be able toadjust the welding time in stages and to assign a different time valuefor the cooling time to at least some of said stages, preferably to eachstage. Then, depending on the likewise adjustable tensioning force, saidparticular value can be multiplied by a factor factor assigned to therespective tensioning force. Different factors should also be assignedhere to different tensioning force values. Like the welding time, thetensioning force may also be adjustable preferably in stages.

Further preferred refinements of the invention emerge from the claims,the description and the drawing.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to exemplaryembodiments which are illustrated purely schematically in the figures,in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a strapping apparatusaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the strapping unit from FIG. 1 without the housing;

FIG. 3 shows the strapping unit from FIG. 2 with an inserted strappingband during the production of a seal;

FIG. 4 shows the strapping unit in a view from the rear toward thesealing device.

The mobile strapping unit 1 according to the invention that is shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 and is exclusively manually actuated has a housing 2 whichsurrounds the mechanism of the strapping unit and on which a handle 3for handling the unit is formed. The strapping unit is furthermoreprovided with a base plate 4, on the lower side of which a base surface5 for arranging on an object to be packaged is provided. All of thefunctional units of the strapping unit 1 are fastened on the base plate4 and to the strapping unit carrier (not illustrated specifically) whichis connected to the base plate.

With the strapping unit 1, a loop (not illustrated specifically inFIG. 1) of a plastics band, for example of polypropylene (PP) orpolyester (PET), which has previously been placed around the object tobe packaged can be tensioned by means of a tensioning device 6 of thestrapping unit. For this purpose, the tensioning device has, astensioning tool, a tensioning wheel 7 with which the band can bedetected for a tensioning operation. In this connection, the tensioningwheel 7 interacts with a rocker 8 which can be pivoted about a rockerpivot axis 8 a by means of a rocker lever 9 from an end position at adistance from the tensioning wheel into a second end position, in whichthe rocker 8 is pressed against the tensioning wheel 7. In the process,the band located between the tensioning wheel 7 and the rocker 8 is alsopressed against the tensioning wheel 7. It is then possible, by rotationof the tensioning wheel 7, to provide the band loop with a sufficientlyhigh band tension for the packaging purpose.

Subsequently, at a point of the band loop at which two layers of theband lie one above the other, the two layers can be welded by means ofthe sealing device embodied in the form of a friction-welding device 13of the strapping unit. By this means, the hand loop can be permanentlysealed. For this purpose, the friction-welding device 13 is providedwith a welding shoe 20 which melts the two layers of the strapping bandby applying mechanical pressure to the strapping band and simultaneouslyundertaking an oscillating movement at a predetermined frequency. Theplasticized and molten regions of the two band layers flow into eachother and, after the band is cooled during a cooling time, a connectionthen arises between the two band layers. If required, the band loop canthen be severed at the same time from a supply reel (not illustrated) ofthe band by means of a cutting device (not illustrated specifically) ofthe strapping unit 1. The strapping unit 1 can subsequently be removedfrom the article and the band strapping produced.

The actuation of the tensioning device 6, the advancing of thefriction-welding device 13 by means of a transfer device of thefriction-welding device 13 and the use of the friction-welding deviceper se and also the actuation of the butting device take place usingjust one common electric motor 14 which provides a driving movement foreach of said components. The structural solution provided for thispurpose corresponds to that described in WO 2009/129634 A1, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. For the supplyof power, a battery 15 which is interchangeable and in particular isremovable for charging is arranged on the strapping unit. A supply ofanother external auxiliary power, such as, for example, compressed air,or further electricity, is not provided in the strapping unit accordingto FIGS. 1 and 2.

In the present case, the portable, mobile strapping unit 1 has anactuating element 16 which is embodied in the form of a pressure switch,is provided for starting up the motor and is referred to below astensioning button. Three modes can be set for the actuating element 16by means of a mode switch 17. In the first mode, both the tensioningdevice 6 and the friction-welding device 13 are triggered successivelyand in an automated manner by actuation of the actuating element 16,without further activities of an operator being required. In order toset the second mode, the switch 17 is switched into a second switchingmode. In the second possible mode, only the tensioning device 6 is thetriggered by actuation of the tensioning button 16. For the separatetriggering of the friction-welding device 13, the tensioning button 16has to be actuated a second time by the operator. The third mode is of asemi-automatic type, in which the actuating element provided thetensioning button 16 has to be pressed until the tensioning force, whichis preadjustable in stages, or tensile stress is achieved in the bend.In this mode, it is possible to interrupt the tensioning process by thetensioning button 16, for example in order to attach edge protectorsunder the strapping band to the article being strapped. By pressing ofthe tensioning button 16, the tensioning process can then be continuedagain. This third mode can be combined both with a friction-weldingoperation to be triggered separately and with an automatically followingfriction-welding operation.

The power supply is ensured by the battery 15 in the form of alithium-ion battery. Batteries of this type are based on a plurality ofindependent lithium-ion cells, in which chemical processes which are ineach case at least substantially separate from one another proceed inorder to produce a potential difference between two poles of theparticular cell. The exemplary embodiment involves a lithium-ion batteryfrom the manufacturer Robert Bosch GmbH, D-70745Leinfelden-Echterdingen. The battery in the exemplary embodiment has 20cells and a capacity of 2.6 ampere-hours at an operating voltage of 36volts.

As can be seen in particular in the view from the rear in FIG. 4, thesealing device which is embodied in the form of a friction-weldingdevice has a plate with a substantially rectilinear or planarcounter-holder surface 22 as the welding counter-holder 21. With regardto a direction 23 transverse to the longitudinal course 24 of the bandsection passed through the sealing device, the counter-holder surface 22is inclined downwardly toward that outer side 25 of the strapping unit 1on which the tensioning and sealing devices are located. The inclinationtakes place at a preferred angle α of 3° with regard to a course or analignment of the tensioning counter-holder surface 28 of the tensioningcounter-holder 27, which is arranged on the rocker 8 and interacts withthe tensioning wheel, in a direction transverse to the longitudinalcourse 24 of the band through the strapping apparatus. As an alternativethereto, the angle α may be selected from a range of 1° to 45°,preferably from a range of 2° to 25°. The tensioning counter-holdersurface is of concave design in the longitudinal direction 24, andtherefore, when the rocker presses against the tensioning wheel 7, theband bears in a planar manner both against the tensioning wheel surfaceand against the tensioning counter-holder surface 28. Therefore, indirections transverse to the longitudinal course of the band, thealignment of the tensioning wheel surface also corresponds to thealignment of the tensioning counter-holder surface 28.

The inclination may also be related to the base plate 4, in particularto the base surface 5 provided for arranging on articles. The basesurface 5 is likewise of flat design, and therefore the strapping unit 1can be arranged in as planar a manner as possible on the particulararticle. If the base surface is considered to be an X-Y surface of aCartesian coordinate system, the inclination of the counter-holdersurface 22 can be described by the counter-holder surface 22 having alinearly constant increase of the Z component in the Y direction if theX direction is considered to be parallel to the longitudinal direction24 of the strapping unit. In the illustration of FIG. 4, this results ina conical arrangement between the counter-holder surface 22 and the basesurface 5, wherein the arrangement of the two surfaces 5, 22 taperstoward that outer side of the strapping unit on which the counter-holdersurface 22 is located.

During the formation of a seal, after the band is placed as a looparound the article, in the process guided as a single layer through thetensioning device 6 and as a double layer through the sealing device,and the designated band tension is applied by engagement of thetensioning device 6 in the upper band layer, which is guided through thetensioning device 6, and a return motion of the band, the welding shoe20 is lowered in the direction of the counter-holder surface 22.Depending on the selected operating mode of the strapping unit 1, thistakes place automatically as a consequence of the tensioning operationbeing finished or on account of separate triggering of thefriction-welding operation by actuation of the button provided for thispurpose. During the friction-welding operation, the band continues to beclamped between the tensioning wheel 7 and the tensioning counter-holder27 and is held there during the formation of the seal. During thismethod section of the formation of the strapping, the tensioning devicehas the function of a band clamp or clamping device which, by means oftwo interacting clamping elements, clamps the band therebetween.

The lowering of the welding shoe 20 causes the two band layers passedthrough the sealing device to be pressed against each other and againstthe counter-holder surface 22. Owing to the clamping of the band in thetensioning device 6 and the inclination of the counter-holder surface22, a twisting, i.e. torsional stress of the band, arises here in saidband section. The band here is aligned with the two band surfacesthereof parallel to the base surface 5 at least in the region of aradius line of the tensioning wheel 7, said radius line being orientedperpendicularly to the base surface 5. The band is arranged in twolayers in the sealing device, wherein the lower band layer rests withthe lower band surface thereof against the inclined counter-holdersurface 22 and is pressed thereagainst. With the upper surface, thelower band layer rests against the lower surface of the upper bandlayer. The welding shoe 20 presses onto the upper surface of the upperband layer. Both band layers and the welding shoe 20 therefore take upthe same inclination a as the inclination of the counter-holder surface.The twisting of the band therefore increases from the tensioning device6 as fat as the sealing device. The twisting decreases again during thefurther course of the band behind the sealing device, i.e. in thedirection away from the strapping unit.

In this position of the band, the friction-welding device 13 begins withthe formation of the seal by means of the oscillating movement of thewelding shoe transversely with respect to the longitudinal course of theband. By this means, the two band layers resting against each other aremelted. The materials of the band layers flow into one another and areconnected in an integrally bonded manner during the subsequent coolingas soon as the oscillating movement of the welding shoe is started.

As can be gathered from FIG. 3, during the production of the seal, adeflection or loop 30 is formed in the upper band layer between theclamping of the band in the tensioning device and the sealing device bythe welding shoe 20 moving in an oscillating manner. The deflection orloop 30 is generated in a direction of the upper band layer which issubstantially transverse to the direction of the oscillating movement ofthe welding shoe and also substantially transverse to the longitudinalextent of the upper band layer before the deflection or loop 30 isformed in the upper band layer. As has been shown, said loop is formedon account of the twisting of the band, thus reducing the power requiredfor the welding movement of the welding shoe.

The welding shoe 20 is subsequently moved away from the counter-holdersurface 22 and the tensioning device 6 detached from the band, thusloosening the clamping and releasing the two band layers. The resettingforces present in the band counter to the twisting lead to the bandshowing at least a tendency to automatically become detached from thecounter-holder surface 22 and from the welding shoe 20. Such adetachment preferably already takes place entirely because of theresetting forces of the band. If the detachment does not already takeplace by this means, at least the forces additionally to be applied inorder to detach the band and remove the latter from the sealing deviceare considerably reduced because of the resetting forces. In addition,the inclination of the counter-holder surface 22 and the associatedgeometrical formation of the sealing device also permit simpler removalof the band and simplex moving away of the strapping unit from the bandstrapping produced directly beforehand.

The strapping unit according to the invention is provided with a controlpanel which has a plurality of pressure-actuable buttons 17, 30, 31, 33as actuating elements. With said buttons, the previously describeddifferent modes of the strapping unit and parameters of the strappingoperations can be preselected and set. For example, by pressing awelding time button 30 once or repeatedly, the welding time can beselected from one of a plurality of welding time stages and stored. Thetensioning force can be selected as one of a plurality of tensioningforce stages, changed and stored by means of a tensioning force button31. The values preset in such a manner are displayed on the displayfield 32 by the strapping unit and used in the strapping operationsuntil the parameter values are changed again. The strapping operationsthemselves are triggered or started by the tensioning button 16, whichis arranged in an ergonomically advantageous manner at the front end ofthe handle of the strapping unit 1, as a further actuating element. Ifthe strapping unit 1 is held at the handle 3, the tensioning button 16can be actuated with the thumb.

The strapping unit 1 is equipped with a button lock which can beswitched on and off. By switching on the button lock, it is possible,inter alia, to prevent undesirable adjustment of previously undertakensettings at the strapping unit 1. For this purpose, in the exemplaryembodiment, first of all a control button “function” 33, which isconfigured as a pushbutton and is located on the control panel of thestrapping unit, has to be actuated and held. In addition, the tensioningbutton 16 arranged on the handle of the strapping unit has to beactuated by pressing. An acoustic signal then sounds and confirms thatthe keypad of the control panel is now locked. From then on, no changesto the settings can be undertaken via the control panel until the buttonlock is released again. The strapping unit may still carry outstrappings which are triggered by actuation of the tensioning button 16.If, in this state, a button of the control panel is neverthelessactuated, an optical signal indicating that locking is present appearsin the display field of the control panel. For this purpose, forexample, an “L” for “locked” can be displayed. The button lock isunlocked in the same manner as the button lock was switched on, namelyby actuation and holding of the operating button “function” 33 and byadditional actuation of the tensioning button 16.

However, the button lock can be used also specifically to block onlyindividual functions. For this purpose, the corresponding functionbutton 30, 31, for example that for setting the welding time, can beactuated and held. While (only) one of the particular function buttons30, 31 is still pressed, the tensioning button 16 can then be actuated,as a result of which, from then on, adjustments to the welding time,which is changeably adjustable per se, are no longer possible, sincethey are locked. In the same manner, other parameter adjustments whichare individually selectable, in particular the tensioning force, canalso be prevented in a specific manner. All that then needs to be doneis to first of all press and to hold the function button 30, 31corresponding to said function, for example for the tensioning force,and subsequently to press the tensioning button 16. All of said lockscan be canceled in the same manner as they have been activated, namelyalso by pressing the corresponding function button 30, 31 and thetensioning button 16. In alternative embodiments, unlocking can also beundertaken in a different manner, for example by means of a separateunlocking button which is only assigned this function.

In addition, the button lock present on the strapping unit also has amode by means of which the use of the strapping unit 1 can be entirelylocked. Said lock is activated by the controlling means 34 of thestrapping unit upon switching into the fully automatic operating modeand has the consequence that two buttons have to be actuatedsimultaneously to trigger a fully automatic strapping operation with theband “tensioning”, “sealing” and “cutting” operations. In the exemplaryembodiment, these are the tensioning button 16 arranged in the region ofthe front end of the handle 3 and next to the control panel and therelease button 35 arranged in the region of the rear end and of thebattery 15. The two buttons 16, 35 are at a distance from each otherwhich does not allow an operator holding the strapping unit at thehandle 3 by one hand to press the tensioning and the release button 16,35 at the same time with said hand. The operator has to use his/hersecond hand for this purpose, thus making it possible to preventinadvertent triggering of the strapping unit.

Each aspect of the concept of operation of the strapping unit concerningthe described operation modes of the strapping unit as well aspreselecting and setting certain parameters of the strapping method hasrelevance as preferred embodiments. Each of said aspects has alsorelevance as separate invention which is independent from other aspectsof the present invention.

An algorithm by means of which, after the formation of a seal has takenplace by friction welding of the two band ends lying one above the otherin the strapping unit, a cooling time period for the seal is variablydetermined is stored In the controlling means 34 of the strappingapparatus. The cooling time begins at the end of the movement of thewelding shoe 20. During the cooling time, the hind is clamped in thestrapping unit in the same manner as during the friction-welding phasein the strapping unit and therefore the seal which has just been formedis relieved of the band tension during the solidification phase of theband material.

At the strapping unit 1, it is possible to set welding times ofdiffering length at the control panel. In the exemplary embodiment, atotal of, for example, seven stages are provided and are selectable forthis purpose for the welding time period. Each of the seven weldingtimes of differing length is assigned a cooling time of differinglength. In this case, the assignment is undertaken in such a manner thatthe longer the welding time, the longer also is the assigned coolingtime. Said allocation is preferably non-changeable.

In addition, the tensioning force which is present at the circumferenceof the tensioning wheel 7 and is transmittable to the band can be set atthe strapping unit. The tensioning force can also be set in a pluralityof stages, for example nine stages. Each of said settable tensioningforce is assigned one of a plurality of factors with which thecontrolling means multiplies the cooling time arising from the weldingtime. Also in this case, the factor is larger, the longer the weldingtime. The time value arising from this multiplication with one of aplurality of factors is used by the controlling means as the actualcooling time. The controlling means keeps the band clamped in thestrapping unit by means of the clamping device thereof during said(actual) cooling time and does not yet release said band. This meansthat, during this time, the band cannot be removed from the strappingunit. If, for example, at stage three of the welding time the coolingtime is 3 s and at tensioning stage seven the factor is 2, this resultsin an actual cooling time of 3 s×2=6 s. After the end of this time, thecontrolling means opens or releases the clamping, as a result of whichthe strapping unit can be moved away from the band and the strappingproduced.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   1 Strapping 19 Tensioning button-   2 Housing 20 Welding shoe-   3 Handle 21 Welding counter-holder-   4 Base plate 22 Counter-holder surface-   5 Base surface 23 Direction-   6 Tensioning device 24 Longitudinal course-   7 Tensioning wheel 25 Outer side-   8 Rocker 27 Tensioning counter-holder-   8 a Rocker pivot axis 28 Tensioning counter-holder surface-   9 Rocker lever 30 Welding time button-   13 Friction-welding device 31 Tensioning force button-   14 Motor 32 Display field-   15 Battery 33 Operating button “function”-   16 Tensioning button 34 Controlling means-   17 Mode switch 35 Release button-   18 Actuating element

1-3. (canceled) 4: A strapping apparatus for strapping an article with astrapping band, the strapping apparatus comprising: a tensioning devicecomprising a rotatable tensioning wheel; a tensioning counter-holdersurface adjacent the tensioning wheel; a sealing device comprising asealing counter-holder surface and a sealing element movable toward thesealing counter-holder surface, wherein the sealing counter-holdersurface is angularly offset relative to the tensioning counter-holdersurface in a direction transverse to a longitudinal direction of thestrapping band when positioned in the tensioning and sealing devices;and a controller configured to: after the strapping band has beenclamped between the tensioning wheel and the tensioning counter-holdersurface, cause the tensioning wheel to rotate to draw tension in thestrapping band; and cause the sealing element to move toward the sealingcounter-holder surface to clamp two overlying layers of the strappingband between the sealing element and the sealing counter-holder surface,thereby causing a portion of the strapping band to twist across anentire width of the portion of the strapping band, and cause the sealingelement to activate to seal the two overlying layers to each other. 5:The strapping apparatus of claim 4, wherein the sealing device comprisesa friction-welding device, wherein the sealing element comprises awelding shoe, and wherein the controller is configured to cause thesealing element to activate by causing the welding shoe to oscillate. 6:The strapping apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a base platehaving a planar base surface, wherein the sealing counter-holder surfaceis angularly offset relative to the base surface in the directiontransverse to the longitudinal direction of the strapping band whenpositioned in the tensioning and sealing devices. 7: The strappingapparatus of claim 4, wherein the sealing counter-holder surface isangularly offset relative to the tensioning counter-holder surface by 45degrees or less. 8: The strapping apparatus of claim 7, wherein thesealing counter-holder surface is angularly offset relative to thetensioning counter-holder surface by about 3 degrees. 9: The strappingapparatus of claim 4, further comprising a rocker that comprises thetensioning counter-holder surface, wherein the rocker is movable to movethe tensioning counter-holder surface toward and away from thetensioning wheel. 10: The strapping apparatus of claim 9, wherein therocker is pivotable about a rocker pivot axis to move the tensioningcounter-holder surface toward and away from the tensioning wheel, thestrapping apparatus further comprising a rocker lever operable tocontrol movement of the rocker. 11: The strapping apparatus of claim 4,further comprising a motor operably connected to the tensioning wheel torotate the tensioning wheel and to the sealing element to activate thesealing element. 12: The strapping apparatus of claim 11, wherein thecontroller is configured to cause the tensioning wheel to rotate bycontrolling the motor to rotate the tensioning wheel and to cause thesealing element to activate by controlling the motor to activate thesealing element. 13: The strapping apparatus of claim 4, wherein thesealing counter-holder surface is angularly offset relative to thetensioning counter-holder surface such that, once the sealing elementmoves away from the sealing counter-holder surface after the sealingelement seals the two overlying layers of the strapping band to eachother, resetting forces present in the strapping band cause thestrapping band to untwist and detach from the sealing counter-holdersurface. 14: The strapping apparatus of claim 4, wherein the tensioningcounter-holder surface is concave in the longitudinal direction of thestrapping band when positioned in the tensioning and sealing devices.15: The strapping apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a controlpanel comprising multiple actuating elements, wherein one of theactuating elements is actuatable to adjust an operating parameter of thestrapping apparatus. 16: The strapping apparatus of claim 15, whereinthe operating parameter comprises one of: tensioning force and weldingtime. 17: The strapping apparatus of claim 15, wherein the control panelis lockable to prevent adjustment of the operating parameter whileenabling the controller to cause the tensioning wheel to rotate to drawtension in the strapping band, cause the sealing element to move towardthe sealing counter-holder surface to clamp two overlying layers of thestrapping band between the sealing element and the sealingcounter-holder surface, and cause the sealing element to activate toseal the two overlying layers to each other. 18: The strapping apparatusof claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to cause the controlpanel to lock responsive to receipt of a designated input comprising anactuation of a designated one of the actuating elements. 19: Thestrapping apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a tensioning buttonactuatable to cause the controller to cause the tensioning wheel torotate to draw tension in the strapping band, wherein the designatedinput comprises an actuation of the tensioning button in combinationwith the actuation of the designated actuating element. 20: Thestrapping apparatus of claim 19, wherein the actuating elements and thetensioning button comprise physical buttons. 21: The strapping apparatusof claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to cause the controlpanel to unlock responsive to another receipt of the designated input.22: The strapping apparatus of claim 17, wherein the control panelfurther comprises a display field configured to display a lock indicatorwhen the control panel is locked. 23: The strapping apparatus of claim17, wherein the actuating elements comprise physical buttons.